What stands out worked out from the figures below

Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).

Varick has the youngest population (median age 33.1).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Benton	Varick
People
Population	2,948Highest	1,724Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.6±8.4Highest about the NY average	33.1±3.6Lowest 17% below NY
	Benton and Varick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	30.1%±5.2Lowest NY: 20.5%	30.3%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Varick and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.8%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9%	18.2%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Benton and Varick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	33.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1Highest NY: 7%	0.5%±0.6Lowest NY: 7%
	Benton and Varick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,767±$13kLowest 13% below NY	$80,250±$8kHighest 7% below NY
	Varick and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,600±$51kLowest 39% below NY	$267,200±$41kHighest 37% below NY
	Varick and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,541±$628Highest 5% below NY	$1,279±$88Lowest 21% below NY
	Benton and Varick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,391Lowest 48% below NY	$4,604Highest 30% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.5%±10.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	29.6%±36.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Varick and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.4%Highest NY: 14%	17.6%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	83%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 30% below NY	23 minHighest 29% below NY
Work from home	11.8%±5.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	12.7%±7.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Varick and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.